Improvement in electro-medical apparatus



PATENT FFICE.

LUIS DRESGHER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-MEDICAL APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,695, dated July 4,1871.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUIS DRESCHER, M. D., of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented an Improved Galvano-Faradic Instrument, ofwhich the following is a specification:

The first part of my invention relates to the use of a U-shaped cup orof a vessel divided by a vertical partition into two compartmentscommunicating freely at the bottom for the cells of a galvanic battery;the object thereof being: lst, to prevent all possible contact of thetwo battery-plates in the cell even when the cell is reduced to a verysmall compass. 2d, to avoid all danger of spilling the iiuids of thebattery in the transportation thereof; and 3d, to obtain readily aconstant battery of a greater or lesser resistance, as required, withoutthe use of porous cups. I contemplate the combination of sand,pulverized calcined clay, papier-mache, or other equivalent porousmaterial, with my improved U- shaped or partitioned cells, the porousmaterial being placed in the bend or bottom of the cell so as to beinterposed between the two branches, compartments, or divisions thereof,and form a separating medium, through which alone the tluids in the onecompartment and the other can communicate, the objectthereof being toobtain thereby a highly constant galvanic battery whose intensity may beeasily adjusted. The second part of my invention relates to theinterception of the current, either induced or direct, passing throughthe coil or helix of an electro-magnet, by means of a switch-finger ar1anged to slide from end to end of the helix in contact with its outercoil, so that the current passing through the same may be divertedtherefrom through this finger at any one convolution ofthe coil, theobject of this part of my invention being to control and regulate to.the most minute degree the intensity of the galvanic or direct currentwhere the helix is connected with a battery, or the intensity oftheshocks of the Faradic or induced current, where the instrument is usedsolely as an electro-inagnetic machine, by including or excluding fromthe current the convolutions of the outer coil of wire in the helix, oneat a time, if desired, up to the full number embraced therein from endto end, thus increasing or diminishing the resistance by determinateunits, each consisting of a single convolution, as aforesaid. The thirdfea- "4 ture of my invention relates to a peculiar construction of thehelix of an electro-magi'ietic or galvano-Faradic machine, wherein theends of each of the successive concentric coils or layers of wire in thehelix are extended and connected to pins or points within reach of aswitch-lever, so 'that by the movement of the lever one or more entirecoils or layers of the wire may be at pleasure included in or excludedfrom the current passing through the outermost layer, and the resistanceto the current be thus increased or diminished by determinate degrees ordivisions on a scale, each division of which embraces anumber of unitsequal to the number of convolutions in a single layer of the helix; theobject of this part of my invention being to provide for an increase ordiminution ot the intensity of the electric or galvanic current passingthrough the helix by increasing or diminishing the amount o'tlresistance offered thereto in determinate proportions or degrees, eachmeasured by the resistance or' an entire layer or coil ot' said helix.The tourth feature of my invention relates to the combination ot' reelswith the electrode wires or cords of all electric or galvanicinstrument, and with suitable metallic strips or wires connecting thesame with the proper poles of the instrument or battery, whereby theelectrode wires or cords may be wound up within the instrument, when notin use, without disconnection. The iifth feature of my invention relatesto the combination ot' a switch-stopper with metallic plates, soarranged and connected with the electrode wires and with the poles of myimproved galvano-Faradic instrument as that it will, by its position,serve to connect the electrodes either with the electromagnetic orFaradic instrument alone, or with the galvailic-battery and Faradicinstrument connected to act coniointly, forming my improved galvano-Faradic machine, or with the galvanicbattery only.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my improved galvano-Faradic instrumentcomplete; Fig. 2, a transverse section in line .r .c of Fig. 1; Fig. 3,a transverse section of the rheostatic coil or helix of theelectro-magnet in line y y of Fig. l, illustrating the application ofthe switch-finger thereto; Fig. 4, a detached elevation of the improvedbattery-cup or cell, Fig. 5 being a vertical section illustrating amodiiication thereof; Fig. (i, a vertical section illustrating thecombination or' aporous resisting medium with the U-shaped cup;

Fig. 7 a detached sectiollal view of the slide for coupling thegalvaille-battery cells, ill line e' z of Fig. l; Fig. 8, a sinlilarview of the same device in a secolld position; Fie'. Si, a sideelevation, partly broken away alld ill vertical section, of nlyiluproved galvano-Faradic instrument. Fig. l0 is an elevatioll of theelectrode reel witll its front plate removed; alld Fi gull a diagramillustrating the construction of llly improved rheostatic coil, alld thecollllection ot' each coil or layer thereof with a separateswitch-point, also the connec tioll alld operation ofthe several partsof nly ilnproved galvallo-Faradic machine.

The improved battery of nly galvano-Faradic instrulnellt collsists of aseries ot' galvanic cells so arrallged as that the number llllited orcolllbilled to form the battery may be illcreased or dilllillislled one.cell at a time, if desired.

A, Figs. 4, 5, and (i, is my inlproved cell for a galvanic battery. ltcollsists of a` tube of glass or other suitable material, bent uponitself so as to be U-shaped, as illustrated ill the drawing, Fig. il, oras all equivalent for the bellt tllbe of a cup or vessel provided witlla central partition which does not extelld to the bottom thereof, blltdivides the vessel into two colllpartmellts havillg freeinterconlnlunication at the bottom of the cup, asillustratedin Fig. 5ofthe drawing. These bellt tubes or clips A A are tilled witll the usualacid sollltion, alld plates of zinc or carboll, or any other ofthereophors whicll may be used for gal vanic batteries, united in pairs bya llletallic strip ill the usual lnanner, are inserted therein, so thateach tube or cup shall contain a plate of zinc ill one ot' its branchesor con'lpartments and a plate of carbon ill the other. B y tllllsfornlin separate yet comnlllllicatillg mlnlpartments ill each cell allpossible contact oftheI two plates is surely avoided, alld the liabilityof wasting the tluid ill the cells by spillillg over duringtrallsportation is almost entirely obviated. In order to convert agalvanic battery collstructed of my ilnproved U-shaped or divided cellsillto a constant battery of more or less resistance, I till the U-shapedcell to a greater or lesser distance above its bend, or the divided cellto a greater of lesser extellt above itspartition, with a suitableporous material, sllcll as powdered calcilled clay, sand, papier-mache,&c., B, Fig. 6, alld then till the one compartment or branch of the cellwith the usual chrolnic-acid or nitric-acid solution, and the other withthe usual sulphuric-acid solution, as ill case ot' the porous-cup cellsof the ordinary batteries. The amount of resistance in the battery mayevidently be regulated at pleasure by the quantity of porous materialinterposed between the two colnpartlnellts of each cell. lll forming myimproved battery I so colnbine the cells thereof as that they may beinclllded or excluded from the battery one at a time, alld the power ofthe battery be tllus illcrea sed or reduced at pleasure bythe smallestpossible divisioll thereof. My nov el arrangenlent consists, flrst, illso placing the cells as that the positive metal or substance ill thedivision of one cell shall be connected with the negative metal orsubstance ill a divisioll of the next adjoining cellfor example, in abattery of six cells,

asillllstratedill Figsl alld ll. The sraalndblanch of the bent tube orU-sllaped cell A1, ill the iirst leftlland corller of the case, containsa carboll plate connected by a metallic strip with a car-l bon plate illthe 'tirst brancll of the next cell A2, the zinc ill the second brallcllof said cell beillg connected with the carbon ill the next, and so onthrough thc entire series. In order to include or to exclude one orlnore cells frolll the battery a bar or plate of hard rubber or othersllitablc illsulating material, (l, is placed at any convenient point,by preference centrally, between the cells alld above them, asillustrated in Figs. l, 7, 8, alld 1l. rlhis plate (l is provided with anumber ot' insulated metallic pills or poillts 1,2, 3, &c.,correspollding to the number of cells ill the battery, alld which arearranged along the plate at equal distances apart to project slightlytherefrom. Each point is connected in regular order, by a wire or otherllletallic strip, with the strip connecting the positive alld negativeplates placed between some one designated pair of cells, the point No.1, for instance, being connected with the strip connecting the zincplate of cell l, and the carbon plate of cell 2, the point No. 2 beingconnected with the strip uniting the zinc plate of cell 2 with thecarboll of cell Il, alld so on, as illustratedin the drawinfl. (See Fig.lll.) A narrow metallic strip, l), connected with one ofthe electrodesof the battery, or with a suitable conllnlltator or switch, is securedupon the plate or bar C to extend its entire length, bllt is keptproperly separated and inslllated from thc metal lic points 1,2, Il, 1-,& Although the single plate of thc iirst cell ill the battery isconnected dil-cetly with one electrode thereof, the single plate ill thelast cup ill the battery is connected, by a lnetallic strip or vire,with ay point on the insulated plate (l, alld the metallic strip l) ofsaid plate is alone connected, as described, with the oppositeelectrode. Ilence, to complete the circuit of thc current through theentire battery a connection must be formed bctwcell said last point ofthe plate tl alld itsllletallic strip l). This is ctl'ccted by means ofa metallic slide, E, which is llladc to lllove easily along the plate Cfrom end to elld thereof, ill contact with the strip l), but above andremoved from the poillts .lA 2 Si. rlhis slide .E is provided with ametallic spring, F, so formed and placed as that it will glide over thepoillts l, 2, 3, fue., in constant contact therewith, and of such lengthwith reference thereto that although it will just spall the intervalbetween any two of tllelll so as to bear upon both, (see Fig. 7,) yet amovement eitller way will leave it ill collllcctiollwith one only,asillustratedl'n Fig. 8. l'l'ence, it' the slide be moved so as to bearupon the point 1 only (see dotted lines, Fi 1l) the galvanic currelltinduced by the two plates ill the cell No. l will alone be brought intollse, for the only collrsc lettopen. for it to follow is by way ot' thepoillt l, connected with the strip between the lirst and second cellsthrough the slide E to thc metallic strip l), alld thence to the secolldelectrode. lf, however, the slide bc moved to contact with thc point 2,then the current, no longer intertalpted at thc strip l, will passthrough the sccolld cell 5 but, being then intercepted, will pass to theelectrede through the point 2. Ininovin g the slide the contact andconnection are established through the point 2 before they are broken atthe point 1, see Figs. l and 8,) so that there is no interruptionwhatever of the current in increasing its intensity by including thesecond cell in the circuit. In this manner the cells may all be includedor excluded singly from the circuit without inter'- rupting the constantiiow of the current. G is the helix of an electro-magnetic machine ofordinary principle and construction in its general features, and whichis combined with my improved galv anic battery to con stitute my improved gal v ano-Faradic machine, as hereinafter' set forth. Instead ofconnecting the outer coil of the helix directly with one electrode, P1,of the instrument, I connect the wire 10 extending to said electrode(see Fig'. l1) with a metallic bar, H, traversed by a metallic slidecarrying a finger, K. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) rllhe bar H is supportedalongside of the helix G, parallel thereto, upon suitable standards L L,at such a height as that the iin ger K will in its movement bear uponthe periphery of the helix from end to end thereof'. The insulatingcovering of the helix is removed along the path traversed by the end ofthe finger K, so that its point may come into direct contact with eachconvolution of its outer coil. (See diagram, Fig. l1.) Hence, by meansof this finger the current passing through this coil may be divertedtherefrom and transmitted to the electrode I)1 at any desired point inits length. M, Figs. 1 and 3, is a table or shelf, arranged above andover the helix G, parallel thereto, and extending back on the oppositeside thereof from the bar H; and N is an index-pointer, affixed to theslide carrying the finger K so as to project over the edge of the tableM, as illustrated in Fig. 3. A scale of units corresponding to thenumber of convolutions in the outer coil of' the helix7 or of any otherdesired units, is marked upon the upper edge of the table M, (see Fig.1,) so that the cxact number of convolutions intercepted by the finger Kbeneath may be seen by the operator at a glance. rlhe helix Gr is formedin the usual manner by winding a number of coils of wire spirally, insuccessive layers, one upon the other about a central core; but in myimproved rheostatic helix G I draw out the ends of each finished spiralcoil, so that I am enabled thereby to separate said coils and keep themdistinct the one from the other, and afterward connect them outsideofthe helix, so as to form the one continuous and unbroken wire from theexterior to the interior of the helix, or vice versa, found in theordinary helices of electro-magnets. rIhe loops formed by theconnections of the several coils or layers ofthe helix are eachconnected, respectively, by a wire extending therefrom, to an insulatedpoint upon the table M, Fig. 1. (See, for illustration, diagram, Fig.l1.) rIhese points are arranged at equal distance apart, in an arc,having the axis of a metallic pointer or switch-lever, O, as its center,and this lever is of such length as that it may reach and touch any oneof' them. They are numbered with figures increasing successively inratio corresponding to the number of convolutions in each coil of thehelix-if, for instance, there are one hundred convolutions in each coil.the first point connected with the first loop uniting the outer and nextiiiiiencoil will be number 0, the second point connected with the loopuniting the second coil, and that next beneath it, `will, be numbered100, the third points connected with the third loop 200, and so on. (SeeFig. 1 and see diagram, Fig. 11, for illustration thereof.) In myimproved galvano-Faradic instrument the pointer or switch-lever O isconnected, by a wire, either directly or mediately, by means of acommutator, with one pole of the galvanic battery A A A; and theoperation of my instrument thus constructed and arranged is as follows:By turning the pointer O into contact with the point numbered zero, andsliding the switch-finger K into contact with the iirst convolution ofthe outer coil of the helix G, it is evident that the galvanic currentfrom the battery passing through the pointer 0, the Zero-pin, and itsconnecting-wire a, to the helix, will, immediately upon reaching thefirst convolution of the helix, be at once diverted therefrom throughthe switch-finger K, and will complete its circuit without passing'through the helix 5 consequently the resistance -of the helix will, asindicated by the number of said first point, be naught. If, however, theswitch-finger be moved along so as to be in contact with the iiftiethconvolution of the coil, as indicated by the number 50 on the scaleabove, (see Fig. 1,) then the galvanic current will pass through fiftyconvolutions of the coil before it is diverted, and the degree of'resistance which it has met with is measured by thenumber. Thus, bysliding along the switch-finger any number of' convolutions may beincluded in the circuit through which the current passes, up to theentire number found in the coil, and the resistance be therebyconsequently increased by very small proportions up to the resistance ofthe whole length of that coil, if desired, and by a reverse movement theresistance may he likewise diminished. By a movement of' the slidingswitch-finger, as described, convolution by convolution of the outercoil, one at a time, may be included or excluded from the circuit of thegalvanic current. As, however, the constant contact of said finger mustalways divertthe current from the helix at one point or another of itsouter coil, it is evident that, so long as the circuit passes throughthe wire a, connected directly with the outer coil, the resistancecannot be increased at the utmost beyond the length of said coil. If',however, the switch-lever or pointer() be placed in contact with thepoint 10U, which is connected by the wire b with the second coil of thehelix, (see Fig. 11,) the current will pass to this second coil, viz.,that next beneath the outer coil, and, passing alongits onehundredconvolutions, will, by means of the loop a', pass into the outer coiland along the same until diverted by the switch-finger K, as abovedescribed. New, by a movement of said finger K, convolution byconvolution of the outer coil can be added, one at a time, to theconvolutions of the next inner coil, and the resistance proportionatelyincreased by determinate units up to two hundred convolutions, or theentire length oi' the two coils united. So, by turning' the switchleverO to the point numbered 500 the current is made to enter the helix inits innermost coil, and to pass, as indicated by the arrows, through allthe coils to the outermost, and then the convolutions of the outermostmay be added, one at a time, it' required, until its length also hasbeen added to the others. Thus, by my invention, I may increase ordecrease the intensity of the galvanic current by including or excludingone cell at a time from the battery, and then measure and control itsintensity between each cell-that is to say, after adding' a cell to orsubtracting a cell from the battery, by increasing or decreasing aresistance to the current determined by including in or excluding' tromits circuit the eonvolutions of all the coils ot' the helix oi' anelectro-magnet, one by one, it' desired, or in proportions or deg'reesso small as to be measured by one of t-he entire number of convolutionsot' wire in said helix. By connecting' the pointer O with one pole otthe cell of the electro-magnetic battery instead ot' with the galvanicbattery, as described, the intensity of the shocks of theelectro-magnetic current may be in like manner graduated and measuredwith the most minute precision, by add-A ing or subtracting' oneconvolution of a coil at a time from the circuit in the helix about themagnet. In order to connect at pleasure one or more of the several partsof the instrument with its electrodes, either singly or conjointly, Iemploy a simple stopper-commutator, It, Fig's. l and Il. This commutatorconsists of four narrow metallic plates secured upon the top plate or'the instrmnent at any convenient point, each separated by a narrow openinterval. so as to be wholly insulated the one from the other. Itecessesare so formed in the opposite adjacent edges of the plates, as to formeach arcs of a circle having its center in the open interval between.the plates, so that they will receive and embrace a round and tapering'pin or stopper, S, when inserted therein. By the insertion o'l' themetallic stopper S between any two or the plates these plates becomeconnected, so that the galvanic or electric current will readily passfrom the one to the other. I connect the iirst plate, l, by a suitablewire with the pole I) and electrode of the instrument next the galvanicbattery; the second plate, 2, with the switch-lever O, by whichconnection is made with the helix G 5 the third plate, 3, with themetallic stripsv upon the adjusting-plate E of the galvanic battery 5and the fourth plate, Ll, with the second pole I) and electrode ot' theinstrument. Hence, by inserting' the stopper S between the tirst andsecond plates ofthe commutator the electrodes are connected with thevelectromag'net alone and the g'alvanic battery is entirely cut ott'. Ifthe stopper be placed between the second and third plates the electrodesare placed in connection with both the galvanic battery andelectro-magnet, so that the galvanic current will pass through the helixofthe magnet. In this last case, by simply unscrewing the set-screw ofthe spring-armatiu'e or hammer of the magnet it is lett passive, andthecoils ot' its helix may be used simply to regulate the intensity ot thegalvanic current, otherwise the action of the electro-ma net is combinedwith that ol" the galvanic battery. It the stopper S be placed betweenthe third and fourth plates the galvanic battery alone is connected withthe electrodes independently oi" the Faradic instrument. T is the cellotl the Faradic instrument, and s 8 its zinc and carbon plates. The jaror vessel constituting the cell T is enlarged at the bottom to contain alarge charge ot iiuid, but is contracted into a narrow neck at itsmouth, barely large enough to receive the two plates. This form of thevessel serves to overcome the tendency ot' the lluid to splash or spillout in transportation. U is the outer case or box containing' myimproved instrrnnent; V, the top plate ot' the box. From this plate aresuspended the battery-plates, and on it are secured the rheostatic coil,and the commutator and switch devices, as has been described. 'Wis aninner box or case, 'litting' closely within the outer case U, but madeso much less in height as that the battery-cells fitted and securedtherein may be lowered entirely clear otl the battery-plates suspendedover them. (See Fig'. il.) Hence7 when the instrument is not in use theinner case W',

with the battery-cells, rests upon the bottom o` the outer case U 5 butwhen it is required for use this inner case is elevated by means ol;lhandles or buttons d CZ at its ends, which project through. slots in theouter case U until the battery-plates are fully immersed in the i'luidof the cells7 and is then secured by simply turning' the handles d. l inan enlarged portion ol" the slots through which they project. X X, Fi 9and lo, are ordinary reels, either operated by a selicontained sjn'ing,so as to be self-winding, or made with a simple crank to be wound byhand. These reels are secured in the i'ront corners ot' the case ot' theinstrumei it, near the bottom thereof', and are properly connected bymetallic strips or wires, each with one of the poles ot' the instrument.Upon these reels are wound metallic cords or tapes to constituteelectrodes oli' the instrument. Instead of placing' the reels within theease ol the instrument I contemplate placing' them in the handles of theelectrodes used therewith, so that the electrode cords or wires may bewomid up each within its proper handle. By thus winding up the electrodecords or wires within the case ot the instrument, or within the handlesot' the electrodes thereof, the inconvenience of carrying themseparately and loosely, and ot' attaching' and detaching' them from theone and the other, is obviafted, and this portion of the instrument isreduced to a neat compact form.

I claim as my inventionl. Double or U -shaped cells for a galvanicbattery, each cell being' formed with distinct yet communica-tingcomjmrtments to receive its positive and neg'ative plates, substantiallyas and li'or the purpose herein set forth.

2. A metallic needle or finger, traversing upon a metallic bar or plateparallel to the electromagnet of a Faradic instrument, and connectedwith one of its electrodes so as to bear with its point upon the outerspiral layer of the inductioncoil of the magnet7 said layer heilig soeXposed as to permit a direct contact of the finger with eachconvolution of its coil, substantially as and for the purpose herein setforth.

3. The combination of each of the loops by Which the several layers inthe helix or induction-coil of an electro-magnet are united to form ione continuous length of Wire7 with one of a series of insulated pointsarranged in order upon a suitable plate or table Within reach of ametallic pivoted switch-lever connected with one of the electrodes ofthe instrument or with a sepa rate galvanic battery7 so that a currentpassing through said switch-lever may be directed to either of thelayers or coils of the helix at pleas- LUIS DRESGHER, M. D.

Vitnesses WILLIAM ENGELHARDT, Louis BEEKMANN.

